Rotary circuit breaker



Feb. 20, 1962 v. F. WOLRAB 3,022,389

ROTARY CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Dec. 29, 1959 INVENTOR.

nite

This invention relates to distributors of internal combustion engines, such as engines of motor vehicles, and in particular a carbon brush mounted to contact segments in the periphery of a conductor disc mounted on a distributor shaft whereby with the brush connected to a lug nut of a distributor, current is carried through the brush, segment, and conductor disc to the shaft of the distributor.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a rotary circuit breaker or distributor to replace the conventional or reciprocating make and break points of a distributor of an internal combustion engine.

In order to furnish current for the spark plugs of a motor vehicle engine the primary circuit of the coil is opened and closed by small cams on a distributor shaft. To obtain exact timing, forming of the cams requires accurate machine work. Even with high precision machine shop practice, it is difficult to obtain a continuous or even break so that with the most accurate machine work at least small sparks occur. The sparks cause corrosion that decrease the efiiciency of the distributor. With this thought in mind this-invention contemplates a distributor in which the contacts, which are carried by a disc, rotate about the distributor shaft and contact a fixed brush which makes and breaks the circuit with the highest possible eiiiciency.

The object or" this invention is to provide a distributor for an internal combustion engine in which the cam shaft and breaker points are eliminated and in which the circuit is made and broken by a brush contacting segments in a distributor disc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary distributor for an internal combustion engine in which the distributor may be positioned in place of the conventional distributor of the engine.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a rotary distributor for an internal combustion engine in which sparking is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary distributor for an internal combustion engine in which the distributor assembly is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other features and advantages in view the invention embodies a disc having spaced segments therein designed to be mounted on the shaft of a distributor, an insulating disc positioned over the former disc, a carbon brush slidably mounted in a brush holder and positioned to engage the segments of the disc on the distributor shaft, resilient means for urging the brush toward the segments of the disc, a base plate upon which the brush holder is mounted, means for adjusting the base plate to adjust the position of the brush, and a connection from the brush to a lug nut of the distributor for supplying current through the brush, segment and disc to the distributor shaft.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the improved rotary circuit breaker or distributor with parts of the distributor housing broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the distributor assembly shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view showing the brush and mounting elements thereof.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view showing a disc and a cover for the disc.

Patent FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts of the improved rotary distributor of this invention includes a disc 10 of insulating material, such as formica, a cover or shell 11 of material, such as aluminum designed to be positioned over the disc 10 and having slots 12 therein, the slots being positioned in registering relation with segments 13 in circumferentially spaced slots 14 of the disc 10, a brush 15, of carbon or the like, has a cable 16 extended therefrom to a clip 17 by which the brush 15 is connected to a lug nut 36 of a distributor, not shown, a U-shaped brush holder 18, in which the brush 15 is positioned, has apertured outwardly and oppositely extending mounting flanges 19 and 20 on the lower ends thereof which are mounted on a base 21, and the base 21 is mounted on a base plate 22 by which the brush holder 18 is secured in position on the distributor.

The brush holder 18 is secured to the base 21 by rivets 23 and the rivets are insulated from the brush holder 18 by sleeves 24. The rivets also extend through openings '31 positioned between upwardly extended parallel spaced fingers 32 and 33 between which the inner end of a spring 34 is secured and the spring 34 is positioned so that the outer end 35 thereof bears against the brush 15, urging the brush 15 against the outer surface of the segments 13 of the disc 10.

The brush 15 is positioned, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and with the parts in the position as illustrated, the clip 17 that is connected to the cable 16 that is connected to the brush 15 is secured to the lug nut 36 of the conventional distributor housing whereby a circuit may be completed from the lug nut 36 through the cable 16 and the brush 15 to the disc 11 and shaft 37 of the distributor.

The base plate 22 is secured in position on the distributor by a breaker pivot post 29 and a screw 38 making it possible to adjust the position of the brush holder in relation to the disc 10 and cover 11. The disc 10 is provided with a center opening 39 having flat sides to correspond with the distributor shaft.

With the parts assembled as illustrated and described, the disc 10 and cover 11 are positioned over the shaft of the conventional distributor and the brush holders secured by the rivets or bolts to the base or vacuum advance plate 22 of the distributor. With the parts in position the brush 15 is connected to a hot or live point of the distributor by the cable 16 and clip 17 whereby upon engagement of the brush 15 with one of the segments of the disc, a circuit is completed. The circuits therefore, created by each of the segments 13 are grounded to the distributor shaft.

The distance between the segments 13 and the edges of the segments are calculated to hold a circuit completed a sufficient length of time to insure a positive spark. The width of the segments and space between the segments may be varied to compensate for distributors of different manufacturers or of different vehicles in which the distributors are used.

The position of the brush 15 is also adjustable by the manipulation of the breaker pivot post 29 and the screw 38 to compensate for distributors of different manufacturers.

The conductor cover 11 is positioned twenty-two and one-half degrees out of phase with the lands on the distributor shaft. The disc 10 should be positioned so that the middle of each thirty degree segment is directly in line with the middle of the flat land in the distributor drive shaft.

By this means a positive spark is assured continuously as sparking and corrosion resulting therefrom are substantially eliminated.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary distributor comprising a disc of insulating material, circumferentially spaced radially disposed segments positioned in said disc, a covering disc positioned over the disc of insulating material and having openings therein positioned in registering relation with the segments, a brush, a holder for mounting the brush with the extended end thereof in contact with the periphery of the disc for engaging the segments, and a clip for connecting the brush to terminals of a conventional distributor on the shaft of which the discs are positioned.

2. A rotary circuit breaker comprising a disc of insulating material, said disc having circumferentially spaced radially disposed slots extended inwardly from the periphery, segments positioned in said slots, a covering disc positioned over the disc of insulating material and having slots therein positioned in registering relation with the segments of the disc of insulating material, a brush, means for mounting the brush whereby the extended end thereof is in contact with the periphery of the covering disc, and means for connecting the brush to terminals of a conventional distributor housing.

3. In a rotary distributor, the combination which comprises a formica disc having circumferentially spaced radially disposed vertically positioned slots extended inwardly from the peripheral surface, segments positioned in said slots, and an aluminum disc positioned over the formica disc, said aluminum disc having slots therein positioned in registering relation with the segments, a brush holder, means for mounting the brush holder on a base plate of a distributor, a brush positioned in the brush holder, a cable connecting the brush to a live point of a distributor housing, and means for resiiiently urging the brush into engagement with the periphery of said discs.

4. In a rotary distributor, the combination which comprises a formica disc having circumferentially spaced radially disposed vertically positioned slots extended inwardly from the peripheral surface, segments positioned in said slots, and an aluminum disc positioned over the formica disc, said aluminum disc having slots therein positioned in registering relation with the segments, a brush holder, means for mounting the brush holder on a base plate of a distributor, a brush positioned in the brush holder, a cable connecting the brush to a live point of a distributor housing and a spring mounted on the brush holder and positioned to contact the brush to urge the brush into engagement with the segments upon rotation of the discs, said mounting positioning the brush to complete a circuit from the live point of the distributor housing through the cable, brush, segment, and covering disc to the shaft of the distributor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATEIJTS 517,812 Bradner Apr. 3, 1894 2,510,067 Callander June 6, 1950 2,649,559 Wargo Aug. 18, 1953 2,672,564 Krasno Mar. 16, 1954 2,730,582 Jernigan Jan. 10, 1956 2,830,140 Robertson Apr. 8, 1958 2,839,622 Billing June 17, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 525,752 Germany May 28, 1931 

